Legal News

The Indiana Supreme Court vacated a man’s public intoxication conviction after finding his agitation does not rise to
the level that would annoy a reasonable person. But the justices did find that the statute is not unconstitutionally vague.

A federal judge in Chicago rejected a proposed $75 million class-action head injury settlement with the National Collegiate
Athletic Association on Wednesday, portraying the deal as too unwieldy and potentially underfunded and urging both sides to
go back to the drawing board.

The former employers of a man who sued them for discrimination and later dismissed his claims may proceed with their lawsuit
alleging malicious prosecution and other claims against that man and his attorney, the Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday.

Because a man’s appeal of the issuance of a tax deed was improperly before the Indiana Court of Appeals, the court dismissed
the appeal without prejudice and told the trial court to rule on his motion to set aside.

Although the trial court erred in giving one jury instruction on self defense that only applies when deadly force is involved,
the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed an inmate’s Class A misdemeanor battery conviction because he otherwise couldn’t
prove his self-defense claim.

The American Bar Association has completed work on a national database that identifies the legal restrictions and prohibitions
that individuals convicted of a crime face in addition to the sentence imposed by the court.

The Indiana Court of Appeals Wednesday affirmed all but one of a man’s drug convictions related to his selling of the
drug commonly referred to as “spice” in his smoke shop. The judges also chastised the deputy attorney general
who handled the case for again submitting a “foul” smelling record.

The days of in-house legal departments working in the shadow of the executive suite are history, or should be. That’s
the perception of general counsel in Indiana, who want a seat at the table in setting strategy for their companies and organizations.
A recent Indiana general counsel survey reveals more.

When Loretta Rush was named chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court in August, Indiana hit a milestone. For the first time,
all of our state's appellate courts were being led by women. Indiana Lawyer recently invited Rush, Indiana Court of Appeals
Chief Judge Nancy Vaidik, Indiana Tax Judge Martha Wentworth and Chief Judge Robyn Moberly of the U.S. District Court for
the Southern District of Indiana's Bankruptcy Court to discuss their career paths as well as opportunities and challenges
today's courts and lawyers face.

When Loretta Rush was named chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court in August, Indiana hit a milestone. For the first time,
all of our state’s appellate courts were being led by women. Indiana Lawyer recently invited Indiana Chief Justice Loretta
Rush, Indiana Court of Appeals Chief Judge Nancy Vaidik, Indiana Tax Judge Martha Wentworth and Chief Judge Robyn Moberly
of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana’s Bankruptcy Court to discuss their career paths as
well as the opportunities and challenges today’s courts and lawyers face.

A ruling in federal court has essentially struck down Indiana’s restrictions on drug-induced abortions, but the argument
that the law places an undue burden on women caused the court to refrain from making a final judgment.

Although the Indiana Supreme Court recently confirmed that death certificates listing the cause of death are public records,
the state is continuing to grapple with questions over privacy and online access to the documents.

Come Jan. 1, lawyers better make certain they’re on firm ground before asking a judge to file court pleadings under
seal. Attorneys also may face new liability if confidential information is mistakenly entered in a public case file. State
and federal courts have rewritten rules for when and how court pleadings can be filed out of public view, reaffirming they
should be open to inspection with limited exceptions.

As ex-attorney William Conour’s appeal of his conviction and 10-year sentence on a federal wire fraud charge moves ahead,
so do victim lawsuits that seek to collect damages from colleagues who practiced with him years earlier and from a Conour
creditor.

A man who challenged his ongoing commitment to a mental health facility got a partial victory in that the trial court has
been ordered to review his medication to determine if it is substantially benefiting him.

A divided Court of Appeals Tuesday affirmed a trial court judgment for $175,000 in favor of a consultant who co-signed a mortgage
in exchange for shares in a company and half-ownership in the real estate.